Transdermal administration of steroid drugs using hydroxide-releasing agents as permeation enhancers

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for increasing the permeability of skin or mucosal tissue to transdermally administered steroid drugs. The method involves use of a specified amount of a hydroxide-releasing agent, the amount optimized to increase the flux of the drug through a body surface while minimizing the likelihood of skin damage, irritation or sensitization. Formulations and drug delivery systems for co-administering a hydroxide-releasing agent with a steroid drug are provided as well. Optimally, the steroid drugs are a combination of an estrogen and progestin that may be administered in female hormone replacement therapy, to provide female contraception, and the like

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/737,833, filed Dec. 14, 2000; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/569,889, filed May 11, 2000, now abandoned; which is a continuation-in part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/465,098, filed Dec. 16, 1999, now abandoned; the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates generally to transdermal administration of pharmacologically active agents, and more particularly relates to methods and compositions for transdermally administering steroid drugs, particularly progestins and estrogens.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The delivery of drugs through the skin provides many advantages; primarily, such a means of delivery is a comfortable, convenient and noninvasive way of administering drugs. The variable rates of absorption and metabolism encountered in oral treatment are avoided, and other inherent inconveniences , e.g., gastrointestinal irritation and the like, are eliminated as well. Transdermal drug delivery also makes possible a high degree of control over blood concentrations of any particular drug.

[0004] Skin is a structurally complex, relatively thick membrane. Molecules moving from the environment into and through intact skin must first penetrate the stratum corneum and any material on its surface. They must then penetrate the viable epidermis, the papillary dermis, and the capillary walls into the blood stream or lymph channels. To be so absorbed, molecules must overcome a different resistance to penetration in each type of tissue. Transport acoss the skin membrane is thus a complex phenomenon. However, it is the cells of the stratum corneum which present the primary barrier to absorption of topical compositions or transdermally administered drugs. The stratum corneum is a thin layer of dense, highly keratinized cells approximately 10-15 microns thick over most of the body. It is believed to be the high degree of keratinization within these cells as well as their dense packing which creates in most cases a substantially impermeable barrier to drug penetration. With many drugs, the rate of permeation through the skin is extremely low and is particularly problematic for high molecular weight drugs such as steroids. Consequently, a means for enhancing the permeability of the skin is desired to effect transport of a steroid drug into and through intact skin.

[0005] In order to increase the rate at which a drug penetrates through the skin, then, various approaches have been followed, each of which involves the use of either a chemical penetration enhancer or a physical penetration enhancer. Physical enhancement of skin permeation include, for example, electrophoretic techniques such as iontophoresis. The use of ultrasound (or “phonophoresis”) as a physical penetration enhancer has also been researched. Chemical enhancers are compounds that are administered along with the drug (or in some cases the skin may be pretreated with a chemical enhancer) in order to increase the permeability of the stratum corneum, and thereby provide for enhanced penetration of the drug through the skin. Ideally, such chemical penetration enhancers (or “permeation enhancers,” as the compounds are referred to herein) are compounds that are innocuous and serve merely to facilitate diffusion of the drug through the stratum corneum.

[0006] Various compounds for enhancing the permeability of skin are known in the art and described in the pertinent texts and literature. Compounds that have been used to enhance skin permeability include: sulfoxides such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and decylmethylsulfoxide (C₁₀MSO); ethers such as diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (available commercially as Transcutol®) and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether; surfactants such as sodium laurate, sodium lauryl sulfate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, benzalkonium chloride, Poloxamer (231, 182, 184), Tween (20, 40, 60, 80) and lecithin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,450); the 1-substituted azacycloheptan-2-ones, particularly 1-n-dodecylcyclazacycloheptan-2-one (available under the trademark Azone® from Nelson Research & Development Co., Irvine, Calif.; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,989,816, 4,316,893, 4,405,616 and 4,557,934); alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, octanol, benzyl alcohol, and the like; fatty acids such as lauric acid, oleic acid and valeric acid; fatty acid esters such as isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, methylpropionate, and ethyl oleate; polyols and esters thereof such as propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, butanediol, polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol monolaurate (PEGML; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,343); amides and other nitrogenous compounds such as urea, dimethylacetamide (DMA), dimethylformamide (DMF), 2-pyrrolidone, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, ethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; terpenes; alkanones; organic acids, particularly salicylic acid and salicylates, citric acid and succinic acid; and certain peptides, e.g., peptides having Pro-Leu at the N-terminus and followed by a protective group (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,496). Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers, eds. Smith et al. (CRC Press, 1995) provides an excellent overview of the field and further background information on a number of chemical and physical enhancers.

[0007] Although many chemical permeation enhancers are known, there is an ongoing need for enhancers that are highly effective in increasing the rate at which a drug permeates the skin, do not result in skin damage, irritation, sensitization, or the like, and can be used to effect transdermal delivery of even high molecular weight drugs such as steroid drugs. It has now been discovered that hydroxide-releasing agents are highly effective permeation enhancers, even when used without coenhancers, and provide all of the aforementioned advantages relative to known permeation enhancers. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional enhancers, transdermal administration of drugs with hydroxide-releasing agents as permeation enhancers, employed at the appropriate levels, does not result in systemic toxicity.

[0008] Estrogen therapy is commonly used in the pharmacological treatment of altered hormone profiles or sexual dysfunction in women. Estrogen-based therapies are generally used to increase mucous production, provide vasodilator effects, and/or to increase the general health of the vagina. Nadelson et al., eds., Treatment Interventions in Human Sexuality (New York: Plenum Press, 1983). In such treatments, estrogen is administered orally, parenterally (e.g., by injection), or topically. With oral administration, as is true with the oral administration of many steroid hormones, estrogens tend to be inactivated; estradiol, for example, is converted to estriol and estrone and then conjugated to glucuronic acid or sulfate. Additionally, estrogens also impair hepatic secretory activity. This “first pass” effect may lead to an undesirable increase in the production of certain coagulation factors and other biologically important compounds by the liver. Parenterally administered estrogen avoids the aforementioned problems associated with oral administration, but as an invasive mode of administration is generally undesirable.

[0009] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an effective method for administering estrogenic agents in a manner that does not involve oral, parenteral or topical drug administration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is thus a primary object of the invention to address the above-described need in the art by providing a method for transdermally administering a steroid drug, particularly progestins and/or estrogens.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide such a method wherein a hydroxide-releasing agent is employed as a permeation enhancer to increase the flux of the steroid drug through a patient's skin or mucosal tissue.

[0012] It is still another object of the invention to provide such a method wherein the amount of hydroxide-releasing agent employed is optimized to enhance permeation while minimizing or eliminating the possibility of skin damage, irritation or sensitization. It is an additional object of the invention to provide formulations and drug delivery systems for carrying out the aforementioned methods.

[0013] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0014] In one aspect of the invention, then, a method is provided for increasing the rate at which a steroid drug permeates through the body surface of a patient. The method involves administering the drug to a predetermined area of the patient's body surface in combination with a hydroxide-releasing agent in a predetermined amount effective to enhance the flux of the agent through the body surface without causing damage thereto. The predetermined amount of the hydroxide-releasing enhancer is preferably an amount effective to provide a pH at the body surface in the range of about 8.0 to 13, preferably about 8.0 to 11.5, more preferably about 8.5 to 11.5, during drug administration. If a skin patch is used, this is the preferred pH at the interface between the basal surface of the patch (i.e., the skin-contacting or mucosa-contacting surface of the patch) and the body surface. The optimal amount (or concentration) of any one hydroxide-releasing agent will, however, depend on the specific hydroxide-releasing agent, i.e., on the strength or weakness of the base, its molecular weight, and other factors as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art of transdermal drug delivery. This optimal amount may be determined using routine experimentation to ensure that the pH at the body surface is within the aforementioned ranges, i.e., in the range of about 8.0 to 13, preferably about 8.0 to 11.5, more preferably about 8.5 to 11.5. A conventional transdermal drug delivery device or “patch” may be used to administer the active agent, in which case the drug and hydroxide-releasing agent are generally present in a drug reservoir or reservoirs. However, the drug and hydroxide-releasing agent may also be administered to the body surface using a liquid or semisolid formulation. Alternatively, or in addition, the body surface may be pretreated with the enhancer, e.g., treated with a dilute solution of the hydroxide-releasing agent prior to transdermal drug administration. Such a solution will generally be comprised of a protic solvent (e.g., water or alcohol) and have a pH in the range of about 8.0 to 13, preferably about 8.0 to 11.5, more preferably about 8.5 to 11.5. Ideally the steroid drug is a progestin and/or an estrogen; combinations of such steroids are useful, for example, in female hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or as female contraceptive compositions.

[0015] In a related aspect of the invention, a composition of matter is provided for delivering a steroid drug through a body surface using a hydroxide-releasing agent as a permeation enhancer. Generally, the formulation comprises (a) a therapeutically effective amount of a steroid drug, (b) a hydroxide-releasing agent in an amount effective to enhance the flux of the drug through the body surface without causing damage thereto, and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier suitable for topical or transdermal drug administration. The composition may be in any form suitable for application to the body surface, and may comprise, for example, a cream, lotion, solution, gel, ointment, paste or the like, and/or may be prepared so as to contain liposomes, micelles, and/or microspheres. The composition may be directly applied to the body surface or may involve use of a drug delivery device. In either case, it is preferred although not essential that water be present in order for the hydroxide-releasing agent to generate hydroxide ions and thus enhance the flux of the active agent through the patient's body surface. Thus, a formulation or drug reservoir may be aqueous, i.e., contain water, or may be nonaqueous and used in combination with an occlusive overlayer so that moisture evaporating from the body surface is maintained within the formulation or transdermal system during drug administration. In some cases, however, e.g., with an occlusive gel, a nonaqueous formulation may be used with or without an occlusive layer.

[0016] In another aspect of the invention, a drug delivery system is provided for the topical or transdermal administration of a steroid drug using a hydroxide-releasing agent as a permeation enhancer. The system will generally comprise: at least one drug reservoir containing the drug and the hydroxide-releasing agent in an amount effective to enhance the flux of the drug through the body surface without causing damage thereto; a means for maintaining the system in drug and enhancer transmitting relationship to the body surface; and a backing layer that serves as the outer surface of the device during use. The backing layer may be occlusive or nonocclusive, although it is preferably occlusive. The drug reservoir may be comprised of a polymeric adhesive, which may serve as the basal surface of the system during use and thus function as the means for maintaining the system in drug and enhancer transmitting relationship to the body surface. The drug reservoir may also be comprised of a hydrogel, or it may be a sealed pouch within a “patch”-type structure wherein the drug and hydroxide-releasing agent are present in the pouch as a liquid or semi-solid formulation.

[0017] still another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for administering a steroid drug to a patient using the aforementioned drug delivery system and/or composition. The method may be used in female contraception, in female HRT, or in contexts in which the administration of a progestin and/or estrogen is indicated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the cumulative amount of estradiol from a matrix patch as described in Example 1.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the cumulative amount of estradiol from a matrix patch as described in Example 2.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the cumulative amount of estradiol from a matrix patch as described in Example 3.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the cumulative amount of estradiol from a matrix patch as described in Example 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Definitions and Overview

[0023] Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to specific drug delivery systems, device structures, enhancers or carriers, as such may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0024] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a steroid drug” includes a mixture of two or more such drugs, reference to “a hydroxide-releasing agent” includes mixtures of two or more hydroxide-releasing agents, and the like.

[0025] In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

[0026] The terms “drug” or“pharmacologically active agent” or “active agent” as used herein refer to a compound or composition of matter which, when administered to an organism (human or animal) induces a desired pharmacologic and/or physiologic effect by local and/or systemic action. The active agents herein are steroid hormones, particularly progestins and estrogens.

[0027] The terms “treating” and “treatment” as used herein refer to reduction in severity and/or frequency of symptoms, elimination of symptoms and/or underlying cause, prevention of the occurrence of symptoms and/or their underlying cause, and improvement or remediation of damage. The present method of “treating” a patient, as the term is used herein, thus encompasses both prevention of a disorder in a predisposed individual and treatment of the disorder in a clinically symptomatic individual.

[0028] The term “hydroxide-releasing agent” as used herein is intended to mean an agent that releases free hydroxide ions in an aqueous environment. The agent may contain hydroxide ions and thus release the ions directly (e.g., an alkali metal hydroxide), or the agent may be one that is acted upon chemically in an aqueous environment to generate hydroxide ions (e.g., a metal carbonate).

[0029] By “therapeutically effective” amount is meant a nontoxic but sufficient amount of an active agent to provide the desired therapeutic effect.

[0030] By “transdermal” drug delivery is meant administration of a drug to the skin surface of an individual so that the drug passes through the skin tissue and into the individual's blood stream, thereby providing a systemic effect. The term “transdermal” is intended to include “transmucosal” drug administration, i.e., administration of a drug to the mucosal (e.g., sublingual, buccal, vaginal, rectal) surface of an individual so that the drug passes through the mucosal tissue and into the individual's blood stream.

[0031] The term “topical administration” is used in its conventional sense to mean delivery of a topical drug or pharmacologically active agent to the skin or mucosa, as in, for example, the treatment of various skin disorders. Topical administration, in contrast to transdermal administration, provides a local rather than a systemic effect. Unless otherwise stated or implied, the terms “topical drug administration” and “transdermal drug administration” are used interchangeably.

[0032] The term “body surface” is used to refer to skin or mucosal tissue.

[0033] By “predetermined area” of skin or mucosal tissue, which refers to the area of skin or mucosal tissue through which a drug-enhancer formulation is delivered, is intended a defined area of intact unbroken living skin or mucosal tissue. That area will usually be in the range of about 5 cm² to about 200 cm², more usually in the range of about 5 cm² to about 100 cm², preferably in the range of about 20 cm² to about 60 cm². However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of drug delivery that the area of skin or mucosal tissue through which drug is administered may vary significantly, depending on patch configuration, dose, and the like.

[0034] “Penetration enhancement” or “permeation enhancement” as used herein relates to an increase in the permeability of the skin or mucosal tissue to the selected pharmacologically active agent, i.e., so that the rate at which the agent permeates therethrough (i.e., the “flux” of the agent through the body surface) is increased relative to the rate that would be obtained in the absence of permeation enhancement. The enhanced permeation effected through the use of such enhancers can be observed by measuring the rate of diffusion of drug through animal or human skin using, for example a Franz diffusion apparatus as known in the art and as employed in the Examples herein.

[0035] An “effective” amount of a permeation enhancer is meant a nontoxic, nondamaging but sufficient amount of the enhancer to provide the desired increase in skin permeability and, correspondingly, the desired depth of penetration, rate of administration, and amount of drug delivered.

[0036] “Carriers” or “vehicles” as used herein refer to carrier materials suitable for transdermal drug administration. Carriers and vehicles useful herein include any such materials known in the art which are nontoxic and does not interact with other components of the composition in a deleterious manner.

[0037] The term “aqueous” refers to a formulation or drug delivery system that contains water or that becomes water-containing following application to the skin or mucosal tissue.

[0038] Accordingly, the invention pertains to a method, composition and drug delivery system for increasing the rate at which a steroid drug permeates through the body surface of a patient, wherein the method involves administering the agent to a predetermined area of the patient's body surface in combination with a hydroxide-releasing agent in an amount effective to enhance the flux of the agent through the body surface without causing damage thereto.

[0039] The Hydroxide-Releasing Agent

[0040] The “hydroxide-releasing agent” is a chemical compound that releases free hydroxide ions in the presence of an aqueous fluid. The aqueous fluid may be natural moisture at the skin surface, or a patch or composition that is used may contain added water, and/or be used in connection with an occlusive backing. Similarly, any liquid or semisolid formulation that is used is preferably aqueous or used in conjunction with an overlayer of an occlusive material. In some cases, however, e.g., with an occlusive gel, a nonaqueous formulation may be used with or without an occlusive layer.

[0041] Any hydroxide-releasing agent may be used provided that the compound releases free hydroxide ions in the presence of an aqueous fluid. Examples of suitable hydroxide-releasing agents include, but are not limited to, inorganic hydroxides, inorganic oxides, and alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts of weak acids. Inorganic hydroxides include, for example, ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal hydroxide and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and the like. Inorganic oxides include, for example, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and the like. Metal salts of weak acids include, for example, sodium acetate, sodium borate, sodium metaborate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate (tribasic), sodium phosphate (dibasic), potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, potassium phosphate (dibasic), potassium phosphate (tribasic), ammonium phosphate (dibasic), and the like. Preferred hydroxide-releasing agents are metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.

[0042] It is important that the amount of hydroxide-releasing agent in any patch or formulation is optimized so as to increase the flux of the steroid drug through the body surface while minimizing any possibility of skin damage. In general, this means that the pH at the body surface in contact with a formulation or drug delivery system of the invention (i.e., the interface between the body surface and the formulation or delivery system) should be in the range of approximately 8.0 to 13, preferably about 8.0 to 11.5, more preferably about 8.5 to 11.5. This will typically although not necessarily mean that the pH of the formulation or the drug composition contained within a delivery system will be in the range of approximately 8.0 to 13, preferably about 8.0 to 11.5, more preferably about 8.5 to 11.5.

[0043] For inorganic hydroxides, the amount of hydroxide-releasing agent will typically represent about 0.5 wt % to 4.0 wt %, preferably about 0.5 wt % to 3.0 wt %, more preferably about 0.75 wt % to 2.0 wt % and optimally about 1.0 wt %, of a topically applied formulation or of a drug reservoir of a drug delivery system, or “patch.” The aforementioned amount applies to formulations and patches in which the drug is (1) an uncharged molecule, either an uncharged, nonionizable compound or a basic drug in nonionized, free base form, or (2) a basic addition salt of an acidic drug, and where (3) there are no additional species in the formulation or patch that could react with or be neutralized by the inorganic hydroxide. For formulations and patches in which the steroid drug can react with the hydroxide releasing agent, and/or wherein there are additional species in the formulations or systems that can be neutralized by or react with the hydroxide-releasing agent (i.e., acidic inactive ingredients), the amount of the inorganic hydroxide will be the total of (1) the amount necessary to neutralize or react with the drug and/or other base-neutralizable species, plus (2) about 0.5 wt % to 4.0 wt %, preferably about 0.5 wt % to 3.0 wt %, more preferably about 0.75 wt % to 2.0 wt % and optimally about 1.0 wt %, of the formulation or drug reservoir. That is, for drugs that react with the inorganic hydroxide should be present in an amount just sufficient to neutralize the drug, plus an additional amount (i.e., about 0.5 wt % to 4.0 wt %, preferably about 0.5 wt % to 3.0 wt %, more preferably about 0.75 wt % to 2.0 wt % and optimally about 1.0 wt %) to enhance the flux of the drug through the skin or mucosal tissue. For patches, the aforementioned percentages are given relative to the total dry weight of the formulation components and the adhesive, gel or liquid reservoir. The aforementioned amount of the inorganic hydroxide provides for a skin flux of transdermally administered testosterone in the range of about 2 to 30 μg/cm²/hr, preferably about 5 to 20 μg/cm²/hr.

[0044] For other hydroxide-releasing agents such as inorganic oxides and metal salts of weak acids, the amount of hydroxide-releasing agent in the formulation or drug delivery system may be substantially higher, as high as 20 wt %, in some cases as high as 25 wt % or higher, but will generally be in the range of about 2 wt % to 20 wt %.

[0045] Still greater amounts of hydroxide-releasing agent may be used by controlling the rate and/or quantity of release of the hydroxide-releasing agent preferably during the drug delivery period itself.

[0046] However, for all hydroxide-releasing agents herein, the optimum amount of any particular agent will depend on the strength or weakness of the base, the molecular weight of the base, and other factors such as the number of ionizable sites in the drug administered and any other acidic species in the formulation or patch. One skilled in the art may readily determine the optimum amount for any particular agent by ensuring that a formulation or drug delivery system should in all cases be effective to provide a pH at the skin surface in the range of about 8.0 to 13, preferably in the range of about 8.0 to 11.5, more preferably in the range of about 8.5 to 11.5, during application to reach the desired pH at the body surface. This in turn ensures that the degree of enhancement is optimized while the possibility of damage to the body surface is eliminated or at least substantially minimized.

[0047] The Steroid Drug

[0048] Suitable estrogens that may be administered using the compositions and drug delivery systems of the invention include synthetic and natural estrogens such as: estradiol (i.e., 1,3,5-estratriene -3,17β-diol, or “17β-estradiol”) and its esters, including estradiol benzoate, valerate, cypionate, heptanoate, decanoate, acetate and diacetate; 17α-estradiol; ethinylestradiol (i.e., 17α-ethinylestradiol) and esters and ethers thereof, including ethinylestradiol 3-acetate and ethinylestradiol 3-benzoate; estriol and estriol succinate; polyestrol phosphate; estrone and its esters and derivatives, including estrone acetate, estrone sulfate, and piperazine estrone sulfate; quinestrol; mestranol; and conjugated equine estrogens. 17β-Estradiol, ethinylestradiol and mestranol are particularly preferred synthetic estrogenic agents for use in conjunction with the present invention.

[0049] Suitable progestins that can be delivered using the compositions and systems of the invention include, but are not limited to, acetoxypregnenolone, allylestrenol, anagestone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone, cyproterone acetate, desogestrel, dihydrogesterone, dimethisterone, ethisterone (17α-ethinyltestosterone), ethynodiol diacetate, flurogestone acetate, gestadene, hydroxyprogesterone, hydroxyprogesterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, hydroxymethylprogesterone, hydroxymethylprogesterone acetate, 3-ketodesogestrel, levonorgestrel, lynestrenol, medrogestone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol, megestrol acetate, melengestrol acetate, norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, norethisterone, norethisterone acetate, norethynodrel, norgestimate, norgestrel, norgestrienone, normethisterone, and progesterone. Progesterone, medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, norethynodrel, d,1-norgestrel and 1-norgestrel are particularly preferred progestins.

[0050] It is generally desirable to co-administer a progestin along with an estrogen in female HRT so that the estrogen is not “unopposed.” As is well known, estrogen-based therapies are known to increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer, as well as the risk of breast cancer, in treated individuals. Co-administration of estrogenic agents with a progestin has been found to decrease the aforementioned risks. Preferred such combinations include, without limitation: 17β-estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate; 17β-estradiol and norethindrone; 17β-estradiol and norethynodrel; ethinyl estradiol and d,1-norgestrel; ethinyl estradiol and 1-norgestrel; and megestrol and medroxyprogesterone acetate.

[0051] For female HRT, it may be desirable to co-administer a small amount of an androgenic agent along with the progestin and the estrogen, in order to reproduce the complete hormone profile of the premenopausal woman, since low levels of certain androgens are present in premenopausal women. Suitable androgenic agents include, but are not limited to: the naturally occurring androgens and derivatives thereof, including androsterone, androsterone acetate, androsterone propionate, androsterone benzoate, androstenediol, androstenediol-3-acetate, androstenediol-17-acetate, androstenediol-3,17-diacetate, androstenediol-17-benzoate, androstenediol-3-acetate-17-benzoate, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; also termed “prasterone”), sodium dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 4-dihydrotestosterone (DHT; also termed “stanolone”), 5α-dihydrotestosterone, dromostanolone, dromostanolone propionate, ethylestrenol, nandrolone phenpropionate, nandrolone decanoate, nandrolone furylpropionate, nandrolone cyclohexanepropionate, nandrolone benzoate, nandrolone cyclohexanecarboxylate, oxandrolone, stanozolol and testosterone; pharmaceutically acceptable esters of testosterone and 4-dihydrotestosterone, typically esters formed from the hydroxyl group present at the C-17 position, including, but not limited to, the enanthate, propionate, cypionate, phenylacetate, acetate, isobutyrate, buciclate, heptanoate, decanoate, undecanoate, caprate and isocaprate esters; and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives of testosterone such as methyl testosterone, testolactone, oxymetholone and fluoxymesterone. Testosterone and testosterone esters, such as testosterone enanthate, testosterone propionate and testosterone cypionate, are particularly preferred androgenic agents. The aforementioned testosterone esters are commercially available or may be readily prepared using techniques known to those skilled in the art or described in the pertinent literature.

[0052] Any of the aforementioned steroid drugs, i.e., progestins, estrogens and androgens, may be naturally occurring steroids, synthetic steroids, or derivatives thereof. The active agent(s) may be incorporated into the present compositions and drug delivery systems and administered in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative, analog, ester, amide, salt, or prodrug, or the agents may be modified by appending one or more appropriate functionalities to enhance selected biological properties such as penetration through the mucosal tissue. In general, esters are preferred relative to salts or other derivatives. Preparation of esters involves functionalization of hydroxyl and/or carboxyl groups that may be present, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts of pharmaceutical chemistry and drug delivery. Esters can be reconverted to the free acids, if desired, by using conventional hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis procedures. Amides and prodrugs may also be prepared using techniques known to those skilled in the art or described in the pertinent literature. For example, amides may be prepared from esters, using suitable amine reactants, or they may be prepared from an anhydride or an acid chloride by reaction with ammonia or a lower alkyl amine. Prodrugs are typically prepared by covalent attachment of a moiety which results in a compound that is therapeutically inactive until modified by an individual's metabolic system.

[0053] To administer any one of the active agents in salt form, suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be prepared using standard procedures known to those skilled in the art of synthetic organic chemistry and described, for example, by J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms and Structure, 4th Ed. (New York: Wiley-Interscience, 1992). Acid addition salts are prepared from an active agent in the free base form (e.g., compounds having a neutral —NH₂ group) using conventional means, involving reaction with a suitable acid. Suitable acids for preparing acid addition salts include both organic acids, e.g., acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, and the like, as well as inorganic acids, e.g., hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like. An acid addition salt may be reconverted to the free base by treatment with a suitable base. Preparation of basic salts of acid moieties which may be present (e.g., carboxylic acid groups) are prepared in a similar manner using a pharmaceutically acceptable base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, trimethylamine, or the like.

[0054] For those active agents that are chiral in nature and can thus be in enantiomerically pure form or in a racemic mixture, the drug may be incorporated into the present dosage units either as the racemate or in enantiomerically pure form.

[0055] Formulations

[0056] The method of delivery of the steroid drug may vary, but necessarily involves application of a formulation or drug delivery system containing the drug(s) and a hydroxide-releasing agent to a predetermined area of the skin or other tissue for a period of time sufficient to provide the desired local or systemic effect. The method may involve direct application of the composition as an ointment, gel, cream, or the like, or may involve use of a drug delivery device. In either case, water must be present in order for the hydroxide-releasing agent to generate hydroxide ions and thus enhance the flux of the active agent through the patient's body surface. Thus, a formulation or drug reservoir may be aqueous, i.e., contain water, or may be nonaqueous and used in combination with an occlusive overlayer so that moisture evaporating from the body surface is maintained within the formulation or transdermal system during drug administration. In some cases, however, e.g., with an occlusive gel, a nonaqueous formulation may be used with or without an occlusive layer.

[0057] Suitable formulations include ointments, creams, gels, lotions, pastes, and the like. Ointments, as is well known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation, are semisolid preparations that are typically based on petrolatum or other petroleum derivatives. The specific ointment base to be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, is one that will provide for optimum drug delivery, and, preferably, will provide for other desired characteristics as well, e.g., emolliency or the like. As with other carriers or vehicles, an ointment base should be inert, stable, nonirritating and nonsensitizing. As explained in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th Ed. (Easton, Pa..: Mack Publishing Co., 1995), at pages 1399-1404, ointment bases may be grouped in four classes: oleaginous bases; emulsifiable bases; emulsion bases; and water-soluble bases. Oleaginous ointment bases include, for example, vegetable oils, fats obtained from animals, and semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. Emulsifiable ointment bases, also known as absorbent ointment bases, contain little or no water and include, for example, hydroxystearin sulfate, anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Emulsion ointment bases are either water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, and include, for example, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, lanolin and stearic acid. Preferred water-soluble ointment bases are prepared from polyethylene glycols of varying molecular weight; again, see Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy for further information.

[0058] Creams, as also well known in the art, are viscous liquids or semisolid emulsions, either oil-in-water or water-in-oil. Cream bases are water-washable, and contain an oil phase, an emulsifier and an aqueous phase. The oil phase, also called the “internal” phase, is generally comprised of petrolatum and a fatty alcohol such as cetyl or stearyl alcohol. The aqueous phase usually, although not necessarily, exceeds the oil phase in volume, and generally contains a humectant. The emulsifier in a cream formulation is generally a nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactant.

[0059] As will be appreciated by those working in the field of pharmaceutical formulation, gels are semisolid, suspension-type systems. Single-phase gels contain organic macromolecules distributed substantially uniformly throughout the carrier liquid, which is typically aqueous, but also, preferably, contain an alcohol and, optionally, an oil. Preferred “organic macromolecules,” i.e., gelling agents, are crosslinked acrylic acid polymers such as the “carbomer” family of polymers, e.g., carboxypolyalkylenes that may be obtained commercially under the Carbopol® trademark. Also preferred are hydrophilic polymers such as polyethylene oxides, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymers and polyvinylalcohol; cellulosic polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, and methyl cellulose; gums such as tragacanth and xanthan gum; sodium alginate; and gelatin. In order to prepare a uniform gel, dispersing agents such as alcohol or glycerin can be added, or the gelling agent can be dispersed by trituration, mechanical mixing or stirring, or combinations thereof.

[0060] Lotions, which are preferred for delivery of cosmetic agents, are preparations to be applied to the skin surface without friction, and are typically liquid or semiliquid preparations in which solid particles, including the active agent, are present in a water or alcohol base. Lotions are usually suspensions of solids, and preferably, for the present purpose, comprise a liquid oily emulsion of the oil-in-water type. Lotions are preferred formulations herein for treating large body areas, because of the ease of applying a more fluid composition. It is generally necessary that the insoluble matter in a lotion be finely divided. Lotions will typically contain suspending agents to produce better dispersions as well as compounds useful for localizing and holding the active agent in contact with the skin, e.g., methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose, or the like.

[0061] Pastes are semisolid dosage forms in which the active agent is suspended in a suitable base. Depending on the nature of the base, pastes are divided between fatty pastes or those made from a single-phase aqueous gels. The base in a fatty paste is generally petrolatum or hydrophilic petrolatum or the like. The pastes made from single-phase aqueous gels generally incorporate carboxymethylcellulose or the like as a base.

[0062] Formulations may also be prepared with liposomes, micelles, and microspheres. Liposomes are microscopic vesicles having a lipid wall comprising a lipid bilayer, and can be used as drug delivery systems herein as well. Generally, liposome formulations are preferred for poorly soluble or insoluble pharmaceutical agents. Liposomal preparations for use in the instant invention include cationic (positively charged), anionic (negatively charged) and neutral preparations. Cationic liposomes are readily available. For example, N[1-2,3-dioleyloxy) propyl]-N,N,N-triethylammonium (DOTMA) liposomes are available under the tradename Lipofecting (GIBCO BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.). Similarly, anionic and neutral liposomes are readily available as well, e.g., from Avanti Polar Lipids (Birmingham, ala.), or can be easily prepared using readily available materials. Such materials include phosphatidyl choline, cholesterol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), dioleoylphoshatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), among others. These materials can also be mixed with DOTMA in appropriate ratios. Methods for making liposomes using these materials are well known in the art.

[0063] Micelles are known in the art as comprised of surfactant molecules arranged so that their polar headgroups form an outer spherical shell, while the hydrophobic, hydrocarbon chains are oriented towards the center of the sphere, forming a core. Micelles form in an aqueous solution containing surfactant at a high enough concentration so that micelles naturally result. Surfactants useful for forming micelles include, but are not limited to, potassium laurate, sodium octane sulfonate, sodium decane sulfonate, sodium dodecane sulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, docusate sodium, decyltrimethylammonium bromide, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride, dodecylammonium chloride, polyoxyl 8 dodecyl ether, polyoxyl 12 dodecyl ether, nonoxynol 10 and nonoxynol 30. Micelle formulations can be used in conjunction with the present invention either by incorporation into the reservoir of a topical or transdermal delivery system, or into a formulation to be applied to the body surface.

[0064] Microspheres, similarly, may be incorporated into the present formulations and drug delivery systems. Like liposomes and micelles, microspheres essentially encapsulate a drug or drug-containing formulation. They are generally although not necessarily formed from lipids, preferably charged lipids such as phospholipids. Preparation of lipidic microspheres is well known in the art and described in the pertinent texts and literature.

[0065] Various additives, known to those skilled in the art, may be included in the topical formulations. For example, solvents, including relatively small amounts of alcohol, may be used to solubilize certain drug substances. Other optional additives include opacifiers, antioxidants, fragrance, colorant, gelling agents, thickening agents, stabilizers, surfactants and the like. Other agents may also be added, such as antimicrobial agents, to prevent spoilage upon storage, i.e., to inhibit growth of microbes such as yeasts and molds. Suitable antimicrobial agents are typically selected from the group consisting of the methyl and propyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (i.e., methyl and propyl paraben), sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, imidurea, and combinations thereof.

[0066] For those drugs having an unusually low rate of permeation through the skin or mucosal tissue, it may be desirable to include a second permeation enhancer in the formulation in addition to the hydroxide-releasing agent, although in a preferred embodiment the hydroxide-releasing agent is administered without any other permeation enhancers. Any other enhancers should, like the hydroxide-releasing agent itself, minimize the possibility of skin damage, irritation and systemic toxicity. Example of suitable secondary enhancers (or co-enhancers) include, but are not limited to: ethers such as diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (available commercially as Transcutol®) and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether; surfactants such as sodium laurate, sodium lauryl sulfate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, benzalkonium chloride, Poloxamer (231, 182, 184), Tween (20, 40, 60, 80) and lecithin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,450); alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, octanol, benzyl alcohol, and the like; fatty acids such as lauric acid, oleic acid and valeric acid; fatty acid esters such as isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, methylpropionate, and ethyl oleate; polyols and esters thereof such as polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol monolaurate (PEGML; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,343); amides and other nitrogenous compounds such as urea, dimethylacetamide (DMA), dimethylformamide (DMF), 2-pyrrolidone, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, ethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; terpenes; alkanones; and organic acids, particularly citric acid and succinic acid. Azone® and sulfoxides such as DMSO and C₁₀MSO may also be used, but are less preferred. As noted earlier herein, Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers, eds. Smith et al. (CRC Press, 1995) provides an excellent overview of the field and further information concerning possible secondary enhancers for use in conjunction with the present invention.

[0067] The formulation may also contain irritation-mitigating additives to minimize or eliminate the possibility of skin irritation or skin damage resulting from the drug, the enhancer, or other components of the formulation. Suitable irritation-mitigating additives include, for example: -tocopherol; monoamine oxidase inhibitors, particularly phenyl alcohols such as 2-phenyl -1-ethanol; glycerin; salicylic acids and salicylates; ascorbic acids and ascorbates; ionophores such as monensin; amphiphilic amines; ammonium chloride; N-acetylcysteine; cis-urocanic acid; capsaicin; and chloroquine. The irritant-mitigating additive, if present, may be incorporated into the present formulations at a concentration effective to mitigate irritation or skin damage, typically representing not more than about 20 wt %, more typically not more than about 5 wt %, of the formulations.

[0068] The concentration of the active agent in the formulation can vary a great deal, and will depend on a variety of factors, including the disease or condition to be treated, the nature and activity of the active agent, the desired effect, possible adverse reactions, the ability and speed of the active agent to reach its intended target, and other factors within the particular knowledge of the patient and physician. Preferred formulations will typically contain on the order of about 0.5 wt % to 50 wt %, optimally about 1 wt % to 30 wt %, active agents.

[0069] Drug Delivery Systems

[0070] An alternative and preferred method involves the use of a drug delivery system, e.g., a topical or transdermal “patch,” wherein the active agent is contained within a laminated structure that is to be affixed to the skin. In such a structure, the drug composition is contained in a layer, or “reservoir,” underlying an upper backing layer. The laminated structure may contain a single reservoir, or it may contain multiple reservoirs.

[0071] In one embodiment, the reservoir comprises a polymeric matrix of a pharmaceutically acceptable adhesive material that serves to affix the system to the skin during drug delivery; typically, the adhesive material is a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) that is suitable for long-term skin contact, and which should be physically and chemically compatible with the active agent, hydroxide-releasing agent, and any carriers, vehicles or other additives that are present. Examples of suitable adhesive materials include, but are not limited to, the following: polyethylenes; polysiloxanes; polyisobutylenes; polyacrylates; polyacrylamides; polyurethanes; plasticized ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; and tacky rubbers such as polyisobutene, polybutadiene, polystyrene-isoprene copolymers, polystyrene-butadiene copolymers, and neoprene(polychloroprene). Preferred adhesives are polyisobutylenes.

[0072] The backing layer functions as the primary structural element of the transdermal system and provides the device with flexibility and, preferably, occlusivity. The material used for the backing layer should be inert and incapable of absorbing drug, hydroxide-releasing agent or components of the formulation contained within the device. The backing is preferably comprised of a flexible elastomeric material that serves as a protective covering to prevent loss of drug and/or vehicle via transmission through the upper surface of the patch, and will preferably impart a degree of occlusivity to the system, such that the area of the body surface covered by the patch becomes hydrated during use. The material used for the backing layer should permit the device to follow the contours of the skin and be worn comfortably on areas of skin such as at joints or other points of flexure, that are normally subjected to mechanical strain with little or no likelihood of the device disengaging from the skin due to differences in the flexibility or resiliency of the skin and the device. The materials used as the backing layer are either occlusive or permeable, as noted above, although occlusive backings are preferred, and are generally derived from synthetic polymers (e.g., polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinylidine chloride, and polyether amide), natural polymers (e.g., cellulosic materials), or macroporous woven and nonwoven materials.

[0073] During storage and prior to use, the laminated structure includes a release liner. Immediately prior to use, this layer is removed from the device so that the system may be affixed to the skin. The release liner should be made from a drug/vehicle impermeable material, and is a disposable element which serves only to protect the device prior to application. Typically, the release liner is formed from a material impermeable to the pharmacologically active agent and the hydroxide-releasing agent, and which is easily stripped from the transdermal patch prior to use.

[0074] In an alternative embodiment, the drug-containing reservoir and skin contact adhesive are present as separate and distinct layers, with the adhesive underlying the reservoir. In such a case, the reservoir may be a polymeric matrix as described above. Alternatively, the reservoir may be comprised of a liquid or semisolid formulation contained in a closed compartment or “pouch,” or it may be a hydrogel reservoir, or may take some other form. Hydrogel reservoirs are particularly preferred herein. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, hydrogels are macromolecular networks that absorb water and thus swell but do not dissolve in water. That is, hydrogels contain hydrophilic functional groups that provide for water absorption, but the hydrogels are comprised of crosslinked polymers that give rise to aqueous insolubility. Generally, then, hydrogels are comprised of crosslinked hydrophilic polymers such as a polyurethane, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyacrylic acid, a polyoxyethylene, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)), or a copolymer or mixture thereof. Particularly preferred hydrophilic polymers are copolymers of HEMA and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

[0075] Additional layers, e.g., intermediate fabric layers and/or rate-controlling membranes, may also be present in any of these drug delivery systems. Fabric layers may be used to facilitate fabrication of the device, while a rate-controlling membrane may be used to control the rate at which a component permeates out of the device. The component may be a drug, a hydroxide-releasing agent, an additional enhancer, or some other component contained in the drug delivery system.

[0076] A rate-controlling membrane, if present, will be included in the system on the skin side of one or more of the drug reservoirs. The materials used to form such a membrane are selected to limit the flux of one or more components contained in the drug formulation. Representative materials useful for forming rate-controlling membranes include polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyamides, polyesters, ethylene-ethacrylate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl methylacetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl ethylacetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl propylacetate copolymer, polyisoprene, polyacrylonitrile, ethylene-propylene copolymer, and the like.

[0077] Generally, the underlying surface of the transdermal device, i.e., the skin contact area, has an area in the range of about 5 cm² to 200 cm², preferably 5 cm² to 100 cm², more preferably 20 cm² to 60 cm². That area will vary, of course, with the amount of drug to be delivered and the. flux of the drug through the body surface. Larger patches will necessary to accommodate larger quantities of drug, while smaller patches can be used for smaller quantities of drug and/or drugs that exhibit a relatively high permeation rate.

[0078] Such drug delivery systems may be fabricated using conventional coating and laminating techniques known in the art. For example, adhesive matrix systems can be prepared by casting a fluid admixture of adhesive, drug and vehicle onto the backing layer, followed by lamination of the release liner. Similarly, the adhesive mixture may be cast onto the release liner, followed by lamination of the backing layer. Alternatively, the drug reservoir may be prepared in the absence of drug or excipient, and then loaded by “soaking” in a drug/vehicle mixture. In general, transdermal systems of the invention are fabricated by solvent evaporation, film casting, melt extrusion, thin film lamination, die cutting, or the like. The hydroxide-releasing agent will generally be incorporated into the device during patch manufacture rather than subsequent to preparation of the device.

[0079] In a preferred delivery system, an adhesive overlayer that also serves as a backing for the delivery system is used to better secure the patch to the body surface. This overlayer is sized such that it extends beyond the drug reservoir so that adhesive on the overlayer comes into contact with the body surface. The overlayer is useful because the adhesive/drug reservoir layer may lose its adhesion a few hours after application due to hydration. By incorporating such an adhesive overlayer, the delivery system remains in place for the required period of time.

[0080] Other types and configurations of transdermal drug delivery systems may also be used in conjunction with the method of the present invention, i.e., the use of a hydroxide-releasing agent as a permeation enhancer, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of transdermal drug delivery. See, for example, Ghosh, Transdermal and Topical Drug Delivery Systems (Interpharm Press, 1997), particularly Chapters 2 and 8.

[0081] As with the topically applied formulations of the invention, the composition containing drug and hydroxide-releasing agent within the drug reservoir(s) of these laminated system may contain a number of components. In some cases, the drug and hydroxide-releasing agent may be delivered “neat,” i.e., in the absence of additional liquid. In most cases, however, the drug will be dissolved, dispersed or suspended in a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, typically a solvent or gel. Other components which may be present include preservatives, stabilizers, surfactants, and the like.

[0082] UTILITY

[0083] The compositions and drug delivery systems are useful in a method for administering a steroid drug or a combination of steroid drugs transdermally. Administration of a combination of steroidal active agents is useful in a variety of contexts, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, the transdermal administration of a progestin with an estrogen may be used in female hormone replacement therapy, so that the symptoms or conditions resulting from altered hormone levels is mitigated or substantially prevented. The present compositions and drug delivery systems are in addition useful to administer progestins and estrogens to treat other conditions and disorders that are responsive to transdermal administration of the combination of active agents. For example, the aforementioned combination is useful to treat the symptoms of premenstrual stress and for female contraception.

[0084] For female hormone replacement therapy, the woman undergoing treatment will generally be of childbearing age or older, in whom ovarian estrogen, progesterone and androgen production has been interrupted either because of natural menopause, surgical procedures, radiation, chemical ovarian ablation or extirpation, or premature ovarian failure. For hormone replacement therapy, and for the other indications described herein including female contraception, the compositions or drug delivery systems are preferably used consecutively so that administration of the active agents is substantially continuous. Transdermal drug administration according to the invention provides highly effective female hormone replacement therapy. That is, the incidence and severity of hot flashes and night sweats are reduced, postmenopausal loss of calcium from bone is minimized, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease is reduced, and the vascularity and health of the vaginal mucosa and urinary tract are improved.

[0085] The amount of active agent(s) administered will depend on a number of factors and will vary from subject to subject and depend on the particular active agent administered, the particular disorder or condition being treated, the severity of the symptoms, the subject's age, weight and general condition, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. Other factors specific to transdermal drug delivery include the solubility and permeability of the carrier and adhesive layer, and the period of time for which the device will be fixed to the skin or other body surface. The minimum amount of drug is determined by the requirement that sufficient quantities of drug must be present in the device to maintain the desired rate of release over the given period of application. The maximum amount for safety purposes is determined by the requirement that the quantity of drug present cannot exceed a rate of release that reaches toxic levels. Generally, the maximum concentration is determined by the amount of agent that can be received in the carrier without producing adverse histological effects such as irritation, an unacceptably high initial pulse of agent into the body, or adverse effects on the characteristics of the delivery device such as the loss of tackiness, viscosity, or deterioration of other properties. However, preferred transdermal compositions and systems for hormone replacement therapy are capable of delivering about 0.5 to 10.0 mg progestin, e.g., norethindrone, norethindrone acetate or the like, and about 10 to 200 μg estrogen, e.g., 17β-estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, mestranol or the like, over a period of about 24 hours. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the desired dose of each individual active agent will depend on the specific active agent as well as on other factors; the minimum effective dose of each active agent is of course preferred.

[0086] The invention accordingly provides a novel and highly effective means for increasing the flux of a steroid drug through the body surface (skin or mucosal tissue) of a human or animal. The hydroxide-releasing agents discussed herein, employed in specific amounts relative to a formulation or drug reservoir, may be used as permeation enhancers with a variety of steroid drugs, including, but not limited to, testosterone and its esters. Surprisingly, the increase in permeation is not accompanied by any noticeable tissue damage, irritation, or sensitization. The invention thus represents an important advance in the field of drug delivery.

[0087] It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred specific embodiments thereof, the foregoing description, as well as the examples which follow, are intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention. Other aspects, advantages and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents, patent applications, journal articles and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0088] The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the materials of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.) but some errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, temperature is in °C. and pressure is at or near atmospheric. EXAMPLE 1

[0089] An in vitro skin permeation study was conducted using three estradiol transdermal systems. The formulations used to prepare these systems are listed in Table 1, which includes weight and weight percent of each component of the formulations. The weight of sodium hydroxide was 0 g, 0.0155 g, and 0.025 g for formulation #Est-P18, #Est-P19 and #Est-P20 respectively. Each formulation was coated onto a release liner and dried in an oven at 55 ° C. for two hours to remove water and other solvents. The dried drug-in-adhesive/release liner film was laminated to a backing film. The backing/drug-in-adhesive/release liner laminate was then cut into discs with a diameter of {fraction (11/16 )} inch. The theoretical percent weight for each ingredient after drying (calculated assuming all volatile ingredients were completely removed during drying) is set forth in Table 2.

[0090] The in vitro permeation of estradiol through human cadaver skin from these discs was performed using Franz-type diffusion cells with a diffusion area of 1 cm². The volume of receiver solution was 8 ml. Human cadaver skin was cut to a proper size and placed on a flat surface with the stratum corneum side facing up. The release liner was peeled away from the disc laminate. The backing/drug-in-adhesive film was placed and pressed on the skin with the adhesive side facing the stratum corneum. The skin/adhesive/backing laminate was clamped between the donor and receiver chambers of the diffusion cell with the skin side facing the receiver solution. Three diffusion cells were used for each formulation.

[0091] The cells were filled with 10% ethanol/90% water solution. The receiver solution was completely withdrawn and replaced with fresh ethanol/water solution at each time point. The samples taken were analyzed by HPLC to determine the concentration of estradiol in the receiver solution. The cumulative amount of estradiol that permeated through the human cadaver skin was calculated using the measured estradiol concentrations in the receiver solutions, which were plotted versus time and shown in FIG. 1.

[0092] The pH of the patch was measured using the following procedures. A 2.5 cm² circular patch was punched out. Ten ml of purified water was pipetted into a glass vial, and a stir bar was added; the liner was removed from the patch and placed in the vial along with the patch. The vial was then placed on a stir plate and the water/patch/liner mixture was stirred for 5 minutes, at which point the liner was removed from the vial and discarded. The vial was again placed on a stir plate and stirring continued for an additional 18 hours. After 18 hours, the stir bar was removed from the vial and the pH of the solution determined using a calibrated pH meter. The measured pHs for the estradiol transdermal systems are listed in Table 3. TABLE 1 Weight and Weight Percent of Components (Based on Total Solution Weight) for Three Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-P18 Est-P19 Est-P20 Estradiol 0.0313 g (0.5%) 0.0322 g (0.5%) 0.0308 g (0.5%) NaOH 0 0.0155 g (0.3%) 0.025 g (0.4%) DI water 0 0.4155 g (6.9%) 0.425 g (7.0%) PIB* adhesive 4 g (66.3%) 4 g (66.0%) 4 g (65.8%) (30% solid) Methylal 1.8 g (29.8%) 1.4 g (23.1%) 1.4 g (23.0%) Ethanol 0.2 g (3.3%) 0.2 g (3.3%) 0.2 g (3.3%)

[0093] TABLE 2 Weight and Theoretical Weight Percent of Components in the Dried Film for Three Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-P18 Est-P19 Est-P20 Estradiol 0.0313 g (2.5%) 0.0322 g (2.6%) 0.0308 g (2.5%) NaOH 0 0.0155 g (1.2%) 0.025 g (2.0%) PIB adhesive 1.2 g (97.5%) 1.2 g (96.2%) 1.2 g (95.6%)

[0094] TABLE 3 pH for Three Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-P18 Est-P19 Est-P20 pH 7.22 8.75 8.90

[0095] The cumulative amount of estradiol that permeated across human cadaver skin at 24 hours increased from 0.22 μg/cm² to 7.01 μg/cm² when the calculated sodium hydroxide concentration in the dried patch was increased from 0% to 2.0%. The cumulative amount of estradiol that permeated across human cadaver skin at 24 hours from the system containing 1.2% NaOH (Est-P19) was 4.55 μg/cm², which was about 20 times higher than that from the formulation without NaOH (0.22 μg/cm², #Est-P 18).

[0096] The pH of the estradiol patch measured using the procedures listed above increased from 7.22 to 8.90 when the calculated sodium hydroxide concentration in the dried patch was increased from 0% to 2.0%.

EXAMPLE 2

[0097] An in vitro skin permeation study was conducted using four estradiol transdermal systems. The formulations used to prepare these systems are listed in Table 4, which includes weight and weight percent of each component in the formulations. The weight of potassium phosphate, tribasic (K₃PO₄) was 0 g, 0.1 g, 0.3 g, and 0.48 g for formulation #Est-PK1, -PK2, -PK3, and -PK4 respectively. The matrix patches were prepared and evaluated using the same procedures as set forth in Example 1. The theoretical percent weight for each ingredient after drying (calculated assuming all the volatile ingredients were completely removed during drying) is listed in Table 5. The cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin was calculated using the measured estradiol concentrations in the receiver solutions, which are shown in Table 6 and FIG. 2. Since estradiol is not expected to react with K₃PO₄, the K₃PO₄ concentration listed in Table 5 equals the excess K₃PO₄ concentration. The pH of each patch was determined using the procedure of Example 1 and the results are listed in Table 6. TABLE 4 Weight and Weight Percent of Each Component (Based on Total Solution Weight) for Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PK1 Est-PK2 Est-PK3 Est-PK4 Estradiol 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g (0.5%) (0.5%) (0.5%) (0.4%) Methyl alcohol 0.5 g (8.0%) 0.5 g (7.8%) 0.5 g (7.6%) 0.5 g (7.4%) K₃PO₄ 0 0.1 g (1.6%) 0.3 g (4.6%) 0.48 g (7.1%) DI water 0.5 g (8.0%) 0.5 g (7.8%) 0.5 g (7.6%) 0.5 g (7.4%) Propylene 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g glycol (4.0%) (3.9%) (3.8%) (3.7%) PIB adhesive 4 g (63.7%) 4 g (62.7%) 4 g (60.8%) 4 g (59.2%) (30% solid) Heptane 1 g (15.9%) 1 g (15.7%) 1 g (15.2%) 1 g (14.8%)

[0098] TABLE 5 Weight and Theoretical Weight Percent of Each Component in the Dried Film for Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PK1 Est-PK2 Est-PK3 Est-PK4 Estradiol 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g (2.0%) (1.9%) (1.7%) (1.5%) K₃PO₄ 0 0.1 g (6.3%) 0.3 g 0.48 g (16.9%) (24.5%) Propylene 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g glycol (16.9%) (15.8%) (14.0%) (12.8%) PIB adhesive 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g (81.1%) (76.0%) (67.4%) (61.2%)

[0099] TABLE 6 Cumulative Amount of Estradiol Across Human Cadaver Skin for Estradiol Transdermal Systems (μg/cm²) Est-PK1 Est-PK2 Est-PK3 Est-PK4   5 hours 0.2 1.2 2.1 1.5 16.5 hours 0.4 3.9 7.6 3.7   20 hours 0.5 4.6 8.8 4.4   24 hours 0.6 5.6 10.2 5.3

[0100] TABLE 7 Excess K₃PO₄ Concentration and pH of Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PK1 Est-PK2 Est-PK3 Est-PK4 Excess K₃PO₄ Concentration 0% 6.3% 16.9% 24.5% (wt %) pH 6.4 8.89 10.83 9.87

[0101] The cumulative amount of estradiol that permeated across the human cadaver skin at 24 hours for Est-PK2 (5.6 μg/cm², Table 6) with a calculated excess K₃PO₄ concentration of 6.3% was about nine times higher than that from the formulation without K₃PO₄ (Est-PK1, 0.6 μg/cm²). This result indicated that the permeation of estradiol is enhanced by K₃PO₄. The cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin at 24 hours increased from 5.6 to 10.2 μg/cm² when the excess K₃PO₄ concentration in the dried patch was increased from 6.3% to 16.9% (Tables 6 and 7). When the excess K₃PO₄ concentration in the dried patch was further increased from 16.9% to 24.5% (Table 7), the cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin at 24 hours decreased from 10.2 to 5.3 μg/cm². This decrease in flux may be because the high concentration of K₃PO₄ made the adhesive matrix more hydrophobic and the amount of K₃PO₄ that could be dissolved by the small amount of water on the top of the skin was reduced.

[0102] The pH of the estradiol patch measured using the procedures listed above increased from 6.4 to 10.83 when the K₃PO₄ concentration in the dried patch was increased from 0% to 16.9%. However, the pH of the estradiol patch decreased from 10.83 to 9.87 when the K₃PO4 concentration in the dried patch was further increased from 16.9% to 24.5%.

EXAMPLE 3

[0103] An in vitro skin permeation study was conducted using four estradiol transdermal systems. The formulations used to prepare these systems are listed in Table 8, which includes weight and weight percent of each component in the formulations. The weight of sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) was 0 g, 0.11 g, 0.3 g, and 0.45 g for formulation #Est-PC1, -PC2, -PC3, and -PC4 respectively. The matrix patches were prepared and evaluated using the same procedures as set forth in Example 1. The theoretical percent weight for each ingredient after drying (calculated assuming all the volatile ingredients were completely removed during drying) is listed in Table 9. The cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin was calculated using the measured estradiol concentrations in the receiver solutions, which are shown in Table 10 and FIG. 3. Since estradiol is not expected to react with Na₂CO₃, the Na₂CO₃ concentration listed in Table 9 equals the excess Na₂CO₃ concentration. The pH of each patch was determined using the procedure of Example 1 and the results are listed in Table 10. TABLE 8 Weight and Weight Percent of Each Component (Based on Total Solution Weight) for Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PC1 Est-PC2 Est-PC3 Est-PC4 Estradiol 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g (0.5%) (0.4%) (0.4%) (0.4%) Na₂CO₃ 0 0.11 g 0.3 g (4.1%) 0.45 g (1.6%) (6.1%) DI water 0.5 g (8.0%) 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g (16.9%) (16.5%) (16.2%) Methyl alcohol 0.5 g (8.0%) 0.5 g (7.1%) 0.5 g (6.9%) 0.5 g (6.7%) PIB adhesive 4 g (63.7%) 4 g (56.4%) 4 g (55.0%) 4 g (53.8%) (30% solid) Propylene 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g glycol (4.0%) (3.5%) (3.4%) (3.4%) Heptane 1 g (15.9%) 1 g (14.1%) 1 g (13.7%) 1 g (13.5%)

[0104] TABLE 9 Weight and Theoretical Weight Percent of Each Component in the Dried Film for Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PC1 Est-PC2 Est-PC3 Est-PC4 Estradiol 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g (2.0%) (1.9%) (1.7%) (1.6%) Na₂CO₃ 0 0.11 g 0.3 g 0.45 g (6.9%) (16.9%) (23.3%) PIB adhesive 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g (81.1%) (75.5%) (67.4%) (62.2%) Propylene 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g glycol (16.9%) (15.7%) (14.0%) (13.0%)

[0105] TABLE 10 Cumulative Amount of Estradiol Across Human Cadaver Skin for Estradiol Transdermal Systems (μg/cm²) Est-PC1 Est-PC2 Est-PC3 Est-PC4   5 hours 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1 16.5 hours 0.2 0.9 0.4 0.6   20 hours 0.3 1.1 0.6 1.0   24 hours 0.3 1.4 1.0 1.4

[0106] TABLE 11 Excess Na₂CO₃ Concentration and pH of Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PC1 Est-PC2 Est-PC3 Est-PC4 Excess Na₂CO₃ Concentration 0% 6.9% 16.9% 23.3% (wt %) pH 7.48 9.87 10.51 10.49

[0107] The cumulative amount of estradiol that permeated across the human cadaver skin at 24 hours for Est-PC2 (1.4 μg/cm², Table 10) with a calculated excess Na₂CO₃ concentration of 6.9% was about four times higher than that from the formulation without Na₂CO₃ (Est-PC1, 0.3 μg/cm²). This result indicated that Na₂CO₃ could enhance the permeation of estradiol.

[0108] The cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin at 24 hours remained about the same when the excess Na₂CO₃ concentration in the dried patch was increased from 6.9% to 23.3% (Tables 10 and 11). This behavior may be because the amount of Na₂CO₃ that could be dissolved by the small amount of water on the top of the skin remained about the same for Est-PC2, Est-PC3 and Est-PC4.

[0109] The pH of the estradiol patch measured using the procedures listed above increased from 7.48 to 10.51 when the Na₂CO₃ concentration in the dried patch was increased from 0% to 16.9%. However, when the Na₂CO₃ concentration in the dried patch was further increased from 16.9% to 23.3%, the pH of the estradiol patch remained about the same.

EXAMPLE 4

[0110] An in vitro skin permeation study was conducted using four estradiol transdermal systems. The formulations used to prepare these systems are listed in Table 12, which includes weight and weight percent of each component in the formulations. The weight of magnesium oxide (MgO) was 0 g, 0.11 g, 0.3 g and 0.45 g for formulation #Est-PM1, -PM2, -PM3 and -PM4 respectively. The matrix patches were prepared and evaluated using the same procedures as set forth in Example 1. The theoretical percent weight for each ingredient after drying (calculated assuming all the volatile ingredients were completely removed during drying) is listed in Table 13. The cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin was calculated using the measured estradiol concentrations in the receiver solutions, which are shown in Table 14 and FIG. 4. Since estradiol is not expected to react with MgO, the MgO concentration listed in Table 13 equals the excess MgO concentration. The pH of each patch was determined using the procedure of Example 1 and the results are listed in Table 15. TABLE 12 Weight and Weight Percent of Each Component (Based on Total Solution Weight) for Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PM1 Est-PM2 Est-PM3 Est-PM4 Estradiol 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g (0.5%) (0.4%) (0.4%) (0.4%) MgO 0 0.11 g 0.3 g (4.1%) 0.45 g (1.6%) (6.1%) DI water 0.5 g (8.0%) 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g (16.9%) (16.5%) (16.2%) Methyl alcohol 0.5 g (8.0%) 0.5 g (7.1%) 0.5 g (6.9%) 0.5 g (6.7%) PIB adhesive 4 g 4 g 4 g 4 g (30% solid) (63.7%) (56.4%) (55.0%) (53.8%) Propylene 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g glycol (4.0%) (3.5%) (3.4%) (3.4%) Heptane 1 g (15.9%) 1 g (14.1%) 1 g (13.7%) 1 g (13.5%)

[0111] TABLE 13 Weight and Theoretical Weight Percent of Each Component in the Dried Film for Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PM1 Est-PM2 Est-PM3 Est-PM4 Estradiol 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g 0.03 g (2.0%) (1.9%) (1.7%) (1.6%) MgO 0 0.11 g 0.3 g 0.45 g (6.9%) (16.9%) (23.3%) PIB adhesive 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g 1.2 g (81.1%) (75.5%) (67.4%) (62.2%) Propylene 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g 0.25 g glycol (16.9%) (15.7%) (14.0%) (13.0%)

[0112] TABLE 14 Cumulative Amount of Estradiol Across Human Cadaver Skin for Estradiol Transdermal Systems (μg/cm²) Est-PM1 Est-PM2 Est-PM3 Est-PM4  4.75 hours 0.08 0.09 0.05 0.02 15.75 hours 0.21 0.31 0.19 0.13 19.75 hours 0.26 0.41 0.26 0.19 23.75 hours 0.32 0.53 0.36 0.27

[0113] TABLE 15 Excess MgO Concentration and pH of Four Estradiol Transdermal Systems Est-PM1 Est-PM2 Est-PM3 Est-PM4 Excess MgO 0% 6.9% 16.9% 23.3% Concentration (wt %) pH 7.48 8.95 9.66 10.28

[0114] The cumulative amount of estradiol that permeated across the human cadaver skin at 24 hours for Est-PM2 (0.53 μg/cm², Table 14) with a calculated excess MgO concentration of 6.9% was slightly higher than that from the formulation without K₃PO₄ (Est-PM1, 0.32 μg/cm²). This result indicated that MgO enhances the permeation of estradiol. The cumulative amount of estradiol across human cadaver skin at 24 hours decreased from 0.53 to 0.27 μg/cm² when the excess MgO concentration in the dried patch was increased from 6.9% to 23.3% (Tables 14 and 15). This behavior may be because the high concentration of MgO made the adhesive matrix more hydrophobic and the amount of MgO that could be dissolved by the small amount of water on the top of the skin was reduced. The pH of the estradiol patch measured using the procedures listed above increased from 7.48 to 10.28 when the MgO concentration in the dried patch was increased from 0% to 23.3%. 

We claim:
 1. A composition of matter useful for the delivery of a steroid drug through a body surface, comprising: (a) a therapeutically effective amount of a steroid drug; (b) a hydroxide-releasing agent in an amount effective to enhance the flux of the drug through the body surface without causing damage thereto and effective to provide a pH in the range of approximately 8.0 to 13 at the body surface during drug administration, and wherein the amount of hydroxide-releasing agent in the composition is the total of (a) the amount required to neutralize any acidic species in the composition plus (b) an amount equal to approximately 0.25 wt % to 25.0 wt % of the composition; and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier suitable for topical or transdermal drug administration.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the pH is within the range of approximately 8.0 to 11.5.
 3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the pH is within the range of approximately 8.5 to 11.5.
 4. The composition of claim 1, which is substantially free of organic solvents.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of inorganic hydroxides, inorganic oxides, metal salts of weak acids, and mixtures thereof.
 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is an inorganic hydroxide.
 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the inorganic hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.
 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the inorganic hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
 9. The composition of claim 7, wherein the inorganic hydroxide is potassium hydroxide.
 10. The composition of claim 6, wherein the amount of inorganic hydroxide in the composition is the total of (a) the amount required to neutralize any acidic species in the composition plus (b) an amount equal to approximately 0.5 wt % to 4.0 wt % of the composition.
 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the amount of inorganic hydroxide in the composition is the total of (a) the amount required to neutralize any acidic species in the composition plus (b) an amount equal to approximately 0.75 wt % to 2.0 wt % of the composition.
 12. The composition of claim 5, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is an inorganic oxide.
 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the inorganic oxide is selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and mixtures thereof.
 14. The composition of claim, 12, which contains up to approximately 20 wt % of the hydroxide-releasing agent.
 15. The composition of claim 5, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is a metal salt of a weak acid.
 16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium acetate, sodium borate, sodium metaborate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, tribasic sodium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, dibasic potassium phosphate, tribasic potassium phosphate, dibasic ammonium phosphate, and mixtures thereof.
 17. The composition of claim 15, which contains up to approximately 20 wt % of the hydroxide-releasing agent.
 18. The composition of claim 1, which is an aqueous formulation.
 19. The composition of claim 18, wherein the formulation is selected from the group consisting of a cream, a gel, a lotion, and a paste.
 20. The composition of claim 19, wherein the formulation is a cream.
 21. The composition of claim 19, wherein the formulation is a gel.
 22. The composition of claim 1, which is a nonaqueous formulation.
 23. The composition of claim 22, wherein the formulation is an ointment.
 24. The composition of claim 1, wherein the steroid is a progestin selected from the group consisting of acetoxypregneno lone, allylestrenol, anagestone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone, cyproterone acetate, desogestrel, dihydrogesterone, dimethisterone, ethisterone, ethynodiol diacetate, flurogestone acetate, gestadene, hydroxyprogesterone, hydroxyprogesterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, hydroxymethylprogesterone, hydroxymethyl-progesterone acetate, 3-ketodesogestrel, levonorgestrel, lynestrenol, medrogestone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol, megestrol acetate, melengestrol acetate, norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, norethisterone, norethisterone acetate, norethynodrel, norgestimate, d,1-norgestrel, 1-norgestrel, norgestrienone, normethisterone, progesterone, and combinations thereof.
 25. The composition of claim 24, wherein the progestin is selected from the group consisting of progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethindrone, norethynodrel, d,1-norgestrel and 1-norgestrel.
 26. The composition of claim 25, wherein the progestin is progesterone.
 27. The composition of claim 1, wherein the steroid is an estrogen selected from the group consisting of 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, pharmaceutically acceptable esters and ethers of 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol and ethinyl estradiol, estriol, estriol succinate, polyestrol phosphate, estrone, estrone acetate, estrone sulfate, piperazine estrone sulfate, quinestrol, mestranol and conjugated equine estrogens.
 28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the estrogen is 17β-estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, or mestranol.
 29. The composition of claim 27, which further comprises an androgenic agent.
 30. The composition of claim 29, wherein the androgenic agent is testosterone or an ester thereof.
 31. The composition of claim 27, which further comprises a progestin.
 32. A system for the topical or transdermal administration of a steroidal drug through a body surface, comprising: (a) at least one reservoir containing the drug and a hydroxide-releasing agent in an amount effective to enhance the flux of the drug through the body surface without causing damage thereto and effective to provide a pH in the range of approximately 8.0 to 13 at the body surface during drug administration, and wherein the amount of hydroxide-releasing agent in the reservoir applied to the body surface is the total of (a) the amount required to neutralize any acidic species in the reservoir plus (b) an amount equal to approximately 0.25 wt % to 25.0 wt % of the reservoir; (b) a means for maintaining the system in drug and enhancer transmitting relationship to the body surface; and (c) a backing layer that serves as the outer surface of the system during use.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the pH is within the range of approximately 8.0 to 11.5.
 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the pH is within the range of approximately 8.5 to 11.5.
 35. The system of claim 32, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of inorganic hydroxides, inorganic oxides, metal salts of weak acids, and mixtures thereof.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is an inorganic hydroxide.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the inorganic hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the inorganic hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
 39. The system of claim 37, wherein the inorganic hydroxide is potassium hydroxide.
 40. The system of claim 36, wherein the amount of inorganic hydroxide in the reservoir is the total of (a) the amount required to neutralize any acidic species in the reservoir plus (b) an amount equal to approximately 0.5 wt % to 4.0 wt % of the reservoir.
 41. The system of claim 40, wherein the amount of inorganic hydroxide in the reservoir is the total of (a) the amount required to neutralize any acidic species in the reservoir plus (b) an amount equal to approximately 0.75 wt % to 2.0 wt % of the reservoir.
 42. The system of claim 35, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is an inorganic oxide.
 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the inorganic oxide is selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and mixtures thereof.
 44. The system of claim 42, wherein the reservoir contains up to approximately 20 wt % of the hydroxide-releasing agent.
 45. The system of claim 35, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is a metal salt of a weak acid.
 46. The system of claim 45, wherein the hydroxide-releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium acetate, sodium borate, sodium metaborate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, tribasic sodium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, dibasic potassium phosphate, tribasic potassium phosphate, dibasic ammonium phosphate, and mixtures thereof.
 47. The system of claim 45, wherein the reservoir contains up to approximately 20 wt % of the hydroxide-releasing agent.
 48. The system of claim 32, wherein the backing layer is occlusive.
 49. The system of claim 32, wherein the reservoir is comprised of a polymeric adhesive.
 50. The system of claim 49, wherein the polymeric adhesive serves as the means for maintaining the system in drug and enhancer transmitting relationship to the body surface.
 51. The system of claim 32, wherein the reservoir is comprised of a hydrogel.
 52. The system of claim 32, wherein the reservoir is comprised of a sealed pouch containing the drug and hydroxide-releasing agent in a liquid or semi-solid formulation.
 53. The system of claim 32, wherein the steroid is a progestin selected from the group consisting of acetoxypregnenolone, allylestrenol, anagestone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone, cyproterone acetate, desogestrel, dihydrogesterone, dimethisterone, ethisterone, ethynodiol diacetate, flurogestone acetate, gestadene, hydroxyprogesterone, hydroxyprogesterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, hydroxymethylprogesterone, hydroxymethyl-progesterone acetate, 3-ketodesogestrel, levonorgestrel, lynestrenol, medrogestone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol, megestrol acetate, melengestrol acetate, norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, norethisterone, norethisterone acetate, norethynodrel, norgestimate, d,1-norgestrel, 1-norgestrel, norgestrienone, normethisterone, progesterone, and combinations thereof.
 54. The system of claim 53, wherein the progestin is selected from the group consisting of progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethindrone, norethynodrel, d,1-norgestrel and 1-norgestrel.
 55. The system of claim 54, wherein the progestin is progesterone.
 56. The system of claim 32, wherein the steroid is an estrogen selected from the group consisting of 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, pharmaceutically acceptable esters and ethers of 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol and ethinyl estradiol, estriol, estriol succinate, polyestrol phosphate, estrone, estrone acetate, estrone sulfate, piperazine estrone sulfate, quinestrol, mestranol and conjugated equine estrogens.
 57. The system of claim 56, wherein the estrogen is 17β-estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, or mestranol.
 58. The system of claim 56, which further comprises an androgenic agent.
 59. The system of claim 58, wherein the androgenic agent is testosterone or an ester thereof.
 60. The system of claim 56, which further comprises a progestin. 